The Boys' School Inquiry.

THE BOYS' SCHOOL INQUIRY .

AS we said last week , our intention was to postpone further reference to the various questions raised by the Committee appointed to inquire into the management , & c , of the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys until after the meeting of the Special Court of the Institution , which has been summoned to

consider the Report of this Committee ; but m lace oi what has been said of late in the general press of the country we think absolute silence on our part would be out of place . As one of our correspondents said last week , the Report of the Committee of Inquiry appears to have supplied a topic for the

journals of the day , or the we ^ k , as the case may be , to treat , as they are in the habit of treating a "big gooseberry" or a " sea serpent , " in the height of the " silly season . " We are certainly agreeably surprised to find so much interest has suddenly developed itself in the outside Press of the country in regard to Masonic affairs , for assuredly those who are now taking a

-prominent part in running down our " muddled Charity , " will be equally active in advocating its interests when it can be shown that reform is intended , and is being carried out as far as human power can arrange it . At the same time we cannot forget that it is very easy to find fault ; also that it is not customary for those who grumble at or abuse others to take any pains to remedy the mischief they may have caused when

they find matters of which they complained have been set right , or that effort is being made to do so . Unfortunately by far the greater portion of mankind find infinite amusement in throwing mud at some of their fellows , and if a part of it does not stick it is no fault of theirs ; they seem to glory in securing the downfall of a fellow creature , no matter at what cost it

may be secured or how little it is deserved . Even now we do not propose to enter minutely into the Report to which we have referred ; all we urge is that justice shall be done on all sides , as far as lies in the power of the Craft to secure it , and we once more ask all who propose to attend the Special Court , to be held on Thursday next , to go there determined

to act on what will bo then brought forward , rather than on any pre-arranged plan which may have been formulated by those who are biassed one way or the other , or who are actuated by even more unworthy considerations .

The Fifteen Sections were worked at the Perfect Ashlar Lodge of Instruction , No . 1178 , held at the Bridge House Hotel , London Bridge , S . E ., on Thursday , 23 rd nit . ¦ Bro . Walter Martin was tho W . M ., assisted by Bro . J . G . Milbourn as S . W ., and Bro Edward C . Talbot as J . W . The monthly meeting of tho New Forest Lodge , No . 319 , was held at the Bugle Hotel , LymingtoD , on Tuesday , the 14 th . ult . After the transaction of Lodge business , those present sat down to a banquet , provided by Bro . Dore .

Historical Relation Of Freemasonry To Ancient Egypt.

HISTORICAL RELATION OF FREEMASONRY TO ANCIENT EGYPT .

A Lecture delivered by Bro . Alexander H . Morgan , before Montgomery Ijodge , No . 19 , F . and A . M ., at a special meeting , held in the Egyptian Hall , Masonic Temple , Philadelphia , 25 th Febuary 1889 .

REPRINTED FROM THE KEYSTONE . PART FIRST . WITHIN the last few months an interest has developed towards certain things connected with tho antiquity of Feeemasonry , which has a tendency to broaden

and become more intense as tbe subject is brought nearer the inquiring mind of the Masonic student . Nob that the early origin of this venerablo institution has been in doubt , or that its sublime truths have grown dim to its votaries , but circumstances have occurred , which , like the advent of

anything new , or strange or startling , always directs attention to the object and frequently , indeed most generally , brings to light things which before were unknown or misunderstood . Such has been tho effect of the

thousands of visitors , non-members of the Fraternity , who have passed through this grand building , admired its architectural proportions and speculated as to the use and meaning of the paraphernalia with which it is furnished . But the Brethren , in the discharge of their Masonic duties ,

decoration of this room . Egyptian Hall , ono of the Lodge Rooms of the Masonic Temple at Philadelphia , was known to all the Craft whose meetings were held in the Temple , and also to the many

entered the doors of their Lodge Room ? , assisted at the ceremonies and departed , perhaps without a single thought as to why a place dedicated to the instruction of tho . neophyte of Freemasonry should be known as Ionic ,

Norman , or Egyptian ; and if for a moment a passing curiosity suggested an inquiry into the meaning of these peculiar appellations , the solution was found iu tho form

of altar , column , pedestal or furniture , which corresponded to the title , Ionic , Norman or Egyptian , and the inquirer was satisfied with the result .

Fifteen yeairs have elapsed since the dedication of the Temple , and during that time the Brethren have remained content with the Lodge rooms as they found them , without

any attempt being made to explain the connection existing between the Fraternity of Freemasons and the nationalities typified in the titles originally given to these gathering places of the Craft . But now , with a desire for knowledge ,

which ia one of the governing principles , and also a beneficent attribute of the Institution , we turn to the annals of the past , and seek in the legends and in the written histories , the marks , signs and symbols used by nations long extinct , for the origin of those mystic observances and

the foundation of those occult sciences which , coming down to us from the early dawn of light and civilisation , make Freemasonry the most interesting of all existing institutions . In what I shall say this evening , I propose to show to

the Brethren : — First—The connection of Masonry with Egyptian history , by reference to the progenitors of the Egyptian people , the country from whence they came , and the race from whom they sprang .